Home > Playing a Player (Sweet Cravings #1)(3)

Playing a Player (Sweet Cravings #1)(3)
Author: Ivy Smoak

"That will be $7.50, miss."

"Okay." I grabbed my wallet out of my purse. Just as I pulled out a ten dollar bill, Rory walked up to the counter. An apron was tied around his waist and his hair was mussed up. He looked even sexier than he had earlier. There was a dot of flour on his cheek. And he was smiling at me.

"This one's on me, Jerry."

Jerry looked at Rory and then back at me. "I actually need to use the restroom. I'll be back." He winked at Rory and walked away.

Rory put his elbows on the counter and leaned forward slightly. "I hope you're bringing me good news, Keira. You saw how short of a walk it is from your apartment to here."

"I actually haven't made up my mind yet." I put the money on the counter and slid it toward him.

"Lots of good contenders, huh?" He slid the bill back toward me and put the plate with the sandwich on it down on top of the money.

"There were a few." I laughed, remembering Piper storming out of the apartment. "Actually most of them were horrible. There was this one girl who thought I was too sloppy to live with. She was super rude."

Rory leaned forward on the counter. "I don't mind if you're a little dirty."

The way he said it made my heart race. I could feel my face blushing. "I don't mind paying, Rory. I didn't come here to get free food. You just mentioned it, and I've never been here..." I shrugged my shoulders. I couldn't seem to control my rambling around him.

"It's on me. I insist."

"Are you trying to bribe me?"

"I'm just being nice. But if you're accepting bribes, then yes, it is a bribe."

"Well, thank you." I grabbed the sandwich and my money and made my way over to one of the tables. Geez, could I be any more awkward?

 

 

Chapter 3


A chair squeaked. I looked up and Rory was sitting down on the other side of my table, regarding me curiously.

"Are you done working?" I asked.

"No, not yet. I didn't want to miss talking to you, though. Look, I know you don't want a guy roommate."

"It's not that." I laughed uncomfortably. "Actually, yeah. It is that. It's just kind of awkward."

"Well, I'm not planning on walking around naked, if that's what you're worried about."

"Oh, God no. No. I mean yes, don't do that."

Rory laughed. "I mean, as long as we're not attracted to each other, it really shouldn't be a problem."

He's not attracted to me? That's kind of a rude thing to say. I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. "Right, of course. I mean, I'm definitely not attracted to you. I like...glasses. I mean, guys with glasses. And the whole tall, dark, and handsome thing is really overrated. I should say tall, dark, and not handsome, am I right? Gross. Ugh." I laughed awkwardly and shoved the rest of my sandwich in my mouth. What the fuck?!

He lowered his eyebrows slightly. I hadn't meant to offend him. And it was a lie. He was dreamy.

"Okay. And we can just make a pact," he said.

"Hmm?" I had a mouth full of food.

"To just be friends. To not start liking each other."

I choked on my bite of sandwich. It took me an agonizingly long time to swallow. "I don't like you," I lied.

"So what's the problem then?"

"I guess there isn't one." Because there's a million!

His eyes grew bright. "So the room is mine?"

"Um...yes." What the hell am I doing?

"Thanks, Keira, I really appreciate it." He got up, walked around the table, and wrapped his arms around me.

I could feel his muscles pressed against me. "You're welcome." My whole body felt tingly. I had a strong urge to kiss him, but instead I patted his back awkwardly. He released me from his hug. He was all smiles.

"Does tomorrow evening work for you?"

He does like me! "Yeah, I'm free tomorrow."

"Great, me and a couple friends will move my stuff in then."

Of course. Geez, I'm already acting like an idiot. "Sounds good."

Rory picked up my plate. "Thanks again, Keira." He headed back behind the counter. I quickly grabbed my purse and fled the restaurant.

 

 

Chapter 4


"You're not serious?" Emily stared at me in disbelief. She was my oldest friend. Ever since we had been randomly assigned as roommates in college, she had been my biggest confidant. And I needed her advice now more than ever.

"I didn't mean to agree to him moving in. It kind of just happened."

"You were doing that thing, weren't you?"

"What thing?"

"Where you just keep rambling because you're nervous."

Oh, that thing. When did I ever not do that? "He does make me really nervous. Emily, I've never been so instantaneously attracted to someone before. He's so handsome."

"Which is why you shouldn't live with him."

"Well, we agreed to just remain friends. So..." I shrugged. "There isn't really anything to worry about."

Emily stared at me skeptically.

"I was kind of hoping you'd tell me that it was a good idea."

"Why on earth did you think I'd tell you it was a good idea? It's actually a really terrible idea, Keira."

"How is it that bad of an idea? All the other candidates were awful. He was the only one who I could actually see myself living with."

"So put out another ad."

"I need a new roommate before the end of the month. He's moving in just in time. Anyone else would take too long."

"Well then, it seems like you already made up your mind." She smiled at me.

"So you think it is a good idea? I mean, you live with a guy. And you're so happy."

"You mean my husband?" Emily laughed.

I couldn't help but start laughing too. If that was the only argument I could come up with, then maybe letting Rory live with me really was a bad idea.

"Are you sure you don't want to just call him and tell him you made a mistake?"

"Geez, I can't do that."

"Of course you can. It's not like you have to ever see him again."

"But I don't want to not see him. I'm actually kind of excited about getting to see him every day."

Emily smiled at me. "I don't know what you want me to say. I feel like it's a bad idea. But you were my only roommate before I got married. So what do I know?"

I laughed. "I can't believe I'm actually going to do this."

"I know. What if he's a serial killer?"

"Emily! Why would you even say that?!" I tossed one of the pillows off the couch at her. She knew that was my biggest fear of living with a stranger.

"I'm just kidding. You're going to be fine."

"Yeah. I'll definitely be fine." I bit my lip. "What's it like living with a guy, by the way? It's pretty much the same as living with a girl, right?"

Emily started laughing again. "No, not at all."

 

 

Chapter 5

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